CVE-2019-4552 in Security Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2020
IBM Security Access Manager 9.0.7 and IBM Security Verify Access 10.0.0 are vulnerable to HTTP response splitting attacks. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability using specially-crafted URL to cause the server to return a split response, once the URL is clicked. This would allow the attacker to perform further attacks, such as Web cache poisoning, cross-site scripting, and possibly obtain sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 165960.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2020
IBM Security Access Manager version 9.0.7 and IBM Security Verify Access version 10.0.0 contain a critical HTTP response splitting vulnerability that stems from inadequate input validation within the URL processing mechanisms. This flaw exists in the web application's handling of user-supplied URLs, where the system fails to properly sanitize or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTTP header delimiters. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious content into HTTP responses by crafting URLs that contain carriage return and line feed characters, which are typically used to separate HTTP headers from response bodies. When a victim clicks on such a malicious URL, the server processes the input without proper validation, resulting in the injection of additional HTTP headers into the response. This creates a split response scenario where the server sends back multiple HTTP responses concatenated together, enabling attackers to manipulate the HTTP protocol at the application layer.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-113, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of CRLF (Carriage Return Line Feed) sequences in HTTP headers. This weakness allows for protocol manipulation at the application level, creating opportunities for various downstream attacks. The operational impact is severe as the vulnerability can be leveraged to perform web cache poisoning attacks, where malicious content gets cached by intermediate proxies and served to other users. Additionally, the split response capability enables cross-site scripting attacks by allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into HTTP responses that are subsequently executed in victims' browsers. The vulnerability also poses a significant risk for sensitive information disclosure, as attackers can potentially manipulate server responses to extract or manipulate data that should remain protected. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires only a single click on a malicious URL, making it highly effective for social engineering campaigns and phishing attacks.
The implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple exploitation to encompass broader security implications for enterprise web applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it targets publicly accessible web interfaces that are part of the security infrastructure. Organizations using these IBM products face significant risk of unauthorized access and data breaches when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be delivered through various means including email attachments, malicious websites, or compromised web applications that redirect users to crafted URLs. Security professionals should note that the vulnerability affects the core authentication and access control mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to protected resources. The remediation process requires immediate patch application from IBM, but organizations should also implement network-level controls and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of IBM security patches and updates that address the input validation flaws in the URL handling components. Network administrators should implement web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious HTTP header sequences containing CRLF characters in user input. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation at all application entry points, particularly for URL parameters and user-supplied content. Organizations should also consider implementing proper HTTP header sanitization techniques that ensure all user input is properly encoded before being processed by the web server. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other security standards. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous HTTP response patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, including unusual header injection patterns or unexpected response concatenations that could indicate successful response splitting attacks.